For Fatima*, income support in the form of the Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) is essential, not only for her livelihood, but for that of her two little girls.

After escaping war to seek safety in Australia, Fatima, found herself having to escape again, this time from her husband who’d become violent. When her marriage ended so did any financial support for her and her children. She searched fruitlessly for work, and she is still looking. She survives on SRSS support to pay her rent, food, school costs for the children, and other day-to-day living expenses.

Now she is one of around 12,000 people seeking asylum and living legally in Australia who could be left hungry, homeless, and unsafe because of the government’s decision to cut SRSS.

What is SRSS and why is it so important?

Status Resolution Support Service or SRSS is a regular payment to help with basic living costs for people waiting for a decision about their refugee status and who find themselves in challenging situations like Fatima.

Drastic reductions to SRSS began last year when the government informed some individuals seeking asylum they were being cut off from any support. But new elements of the policy have now become clearer and its apparent thousands more will be affected. The government has outlined that people seeking asylum assessed to be ‘work ready’ will be required to find work in order to survive.

“What the government forgets is that people seeking asylum want to work and meaningfully contribute to society, but finding work is hard at the best of times,” says Carolina Gottardo, Director of JRS Australia.

“Forcing full-time students, single mothers, people with debilitating mental and chronic illnesses, physical injuries, limited English and precarious legal statuses into the workforce in 7-10 days is unrealistic and cruel. We are manufacturing situations of systemic poverty, destitution, and homelessness.”

What JRS is doing about the crisis

JRS can offer people seeking asylum like Fatima and her young children a temporary emergency, basic living allowance, access to our food bank, specialist casework, an employment programme, community activities and a safe, welcoming space. But we cannot offer permanent stability.

“We’re really struggling to meet the growing demand for safe, affordable, and sustainable housing, but also for basic necessities such as food, toiletries, sanitary pads and nappies,” Gottardo says. “Of course, we are all doing the best we can but with the deep impact of these cuts, it’s just not enough. JRS staff and volunteers say it’s like nothing they’ve seen before.”

Because of these cuts, the emergency assistance needs of people simply seeking safety will overwhelm crisis homelessness, mental health, and medical services, as well as JRS who provides on the ground support for these, the most vulnerable people in our society.

“SRSS cuts and the timeframe the government’s set up to implement them, does not reflect true Australian values of a fair go for all. These cuts push people to the margins and leave them destitute and hungry,” Gottardo says.

The worst thing we can do as people of faith is to turn away from those in need. God asks us to show love for refugees and displaced people. He calls on us to act, to protect, to welcome and to provide for people like Fatima and her two little girls.

“For us Christians, hospitality offered to the weary traveller is offered to Jesus Christ himself, through the newcomer: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ (Mt 25:35). The duty of solidarity is to counter the throwaway culture and give greater attention to those who are weakest, poorest and most vulnerable.” —Pope Francis